INDONESIA: Whispers in Djakarta

The temper of a country is often found in
its wit. In Djakarta, the capital of the island nation of Indonesia, a
government official last week whispered the latest crack: "Anyone who
is not totally confused is just very badly informed." Another, and more
troubling, crack is that what the tropical paradise of Indonesia needs
is "a_cold winter or Mao Tse-tung." Lamented the Times of Indonesia:
"Tension is in the air everywhere today. The one sentiment expressed on
all sides is that of frustration."

Despite a climate in which anything grows, despite proven oilfields,
brimming natural resources and a population...